Building construction.



' PATENTED JULY 2l, 1908. J. A. HOIMANN.

z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.13, 1907.

I I I 7432x255 e s: f

No. 893,924. PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

J. A. HOI'MANN.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED s PT. s 1

E l 907 zsHBETs-SEEET 2.

7 m NWN c/mj u 8 Y 7 ,j No. 893,924.

JOSEPH A. EoFMANN, or MILL VALLEY, oALIFoRNLA.

l BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters vPatent.

. Patented July 21, 1908.

Application led September 13, 1907. Serial No. 392,798.

To lwhowit may concern: l

Be 1t known that I, JOSEPH A. HOFMANN,

' 'citizen of the United States, residing at Mill Valley, in the. county of Marin and State of California, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Building Construction, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates. to an improved earthquake-proof, fire-proof and wind-proof building construction. Its object is to provide a system of 'construction suitable for chimneys, walls; columns and other structures' which will have such inherent rigidity Y rand stability independent of the cement and vmortar, that the latter will not be the chief means, as it is nowadays, for holding the bricks together.

' Theinvention consists oftheparts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed,

having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view' embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a fragment of a wall. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a block'or brick. Figs. 5-6--7 show vvariousv types of bond-irons.

The invention'comprises the use of a series of blocks, as A, which blocks have each a central vertical perforation 2, and one or more vertical end and side grooves 3; and some of the blocks have the top or bottom ooves' 4. 'Where the blocks are used for acing the corner of a building, only one end and one side, or possibly one side only, or one end only, would have the grooves 3.. These blocks are laid up in usual break-joint courses, with a. suitable filling of cement or mortar; and metal rods, as5, are passed up andA through certain of the' blocks and between other blocks, and these rods are bonded together by suitable bond-irons 6 or 7.` Where bond-irons or rods, as 6, are used, they usually seat in the grooves 4. Where v flat bondirons, as 7, are used, either horizontal or vertical, they being very thin, are accommodated in the spaces between the bricks. The bond-irons'are made with eyes or perforations 8 through which the rods 5 mag pass. j Y

he bricks or blocks can be made either of clay, cement or any other material of any size or shape-best suited for the'occasion. The rods 5 can be made of steel, iron` or any material of any size or shape desired (round,

i square, polygonal etc), each rod being embedded iirmly in the foundations and continuing in one piece by welding or otherwise suitably joining successive sections together as the courses in laying thebricks are reached,

. when building.

When the top of-` the building is reached the rods run through a plate of steel or iron, or 'any other material of any thickness desired, and are then riveted or bolted firmly or fastened in any way most convenient.

These rods can also run through a metal plate at each story if desired, especially when the brickwork acts as piers or columns between the doors'or windows. The walls are also strongly braced at each story by heavy metal rods or girders (not shown) but whic give increased ri idity to the structure, especially in ,very tall uildings.

Preferably the blocks are centrally perforated as shown at 2, and are also vertically groved on one or more ends or sides as shown at 3, so that the perforations and grooves will be brou ht easily into proper register whether the ricks are laid one on the other or in break-joint formation, or at right angles to one another. It will thus be seen that the rods which pass through one brick pass outside of the immediate adjacent. upper and lower bricks.

Where piers are to be built, as at the corners or elsewhere, a hollow space, as 9, may be left, in which is disposed a metal column 1'0 which is cruciform in cross section. This column 10 may be bonded to the bricks by ties 7, which have rods 5 passing through the eye at one end, and being riveted at the other end, as shown at 11, to the column 10. The edges of the column-shapes 10, fit corresponding vertical grooves 3 in the adjacent blocks. This structure is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with a steel frame 12. l In the elevation shown in Fig. 3 this steel frame is provided with lateral projecting plates 13 at 'suitable intervals, say at each story, which fertical rods 5 by suitable ties 7, as shown in The pier columns 10 may be arranged at more or less frequent intervals in the Walls according to the character ofthe building and the strains it may have to undergo. A structure of perforated bricks Vsuch as here shown, bonded together in the manner indicated; has an extreme of rigidity and staunchness and is caprable of withstanding the severest shocks, twists and strains. lt renders high buildings proof against the forces of the heaviest winds and storms..

The perforated bricks with the vertical rods and horizontal bonds produce an excellent chmney construction as shown in Fig. l, at 16. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s- 1. In a building construction the combination with a steel frame, of perforated blocks laid one on the other, with the perforations registering in vertical series, vertical rods passing through the perforations, metal connectors for tylng said rods to said frame and to each other, and metal plates forming part of bricks, said of the steel frame and extending at intervals into the brick structure and between courses plates having holes to-receive said rods. j

2. A building constructionl consisting of perforated blocks laid one on the other with tions in the blocks, said blocks laid to inclose a space, a metal shape, cruciform in cross section, itting said space and metal bonds cnnecting said shape to said rods.

3. A Wall construction consisting of perforated blocks with vertical rods assing through the blocks, said blocks inclosin vertical pier spaces at intervals in the Wal and meta said spaces With the edges of said columns fitting corresponding vertical grooves in the adjacent sides of the blocks, and metal bonds connecting the columns to said vertical rods.

In testimony vvliereof I have hereunto set my hand in pre/sence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH A. HOFMANN. Witnesses: l

C. A. ENFIELD,

S. H. NOURSE.

perforacolumns cross-shape in section iitting 

